Palliative Care Nurse Practicum/Observership

Overview

Practicums are available for graduate nursing students currently enrolled in a graduate nursing program. The focus of the practicum is advanced practice nursing as a Nurse Practitioner. Board-certified Palliative Care Nurse Practitioners serve as preceptors in collaboration with the Knight Center for Clinical and Professional Development.

In this practicum, students will become familiar with the comprehensive interdisciplinary care of patients and families facing serious illnesses including cancer, cardiac, renal, pulmonary and neurological diseases as well as trauma and HIV/AIDS. Students will actively contribute to the initial assessment and evaluation of pain and other symptoms, along with psychological and spiritual/social distress. They will assist in the development of comprehensive treatment plans and the ongoing management of patient and family needs. The various roles of the advanced practice nurse will be explored from direct care provider to coach/clinical educator.

Practicums are limited to 1 graduate nursing student per semester for the service. Therefore, nurses interested in a practicum in palliative care are encouraged to plan early. Potential applicants should send a letter of inquiry, including the following information: current enrollment in a nursing program, the proposed semester for a practicum, personal learning goals in palliative care, and a resume. An interview will follow such inquiries to assess interest and appropriateness of the practicum and to assist in selection.

Nurse practitioners who are already practicing and seek to learn more about palliative care may apply for a clinical observership. These observerships are limited to 1-5 days based interest and goodness of fit. Applicants for observership should send a letter of inquiry, including the following information: the proposed dates of observership, personal learning goals in palliative care, and a resume.